Azmer–Gharib Nawaz

Humra Quraishi

Horrific distractions aregetting used so that the masses don’t cry out for rotis and rozgaars! No bread and bread-earners, only diggers equipped with hammers and all possible digging material.

Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh stands out as last week five of its citizens were killed and many more injured and arrested. There rages a huge controversy whether those arrested are the actual culprits or victims of the communally charged atmosphere, dripping with obnoxious comments…lows reaching such lows that a particular police officer even terming a certain section of the aggrieved minority citizens of Sambhal as “ jaahils”/ uneducated and uncouth! He should be well aware of the basic fact that he is a civil servant and cannot treat the minority community with such gaudy arrogance and use of third-class terms!

Why isit that nobody can visit Sambhal till December 10? If the administration and the political rulers have nothing to conceal then let us visit the town and see for ourselves the ground realities. Needless to add that by then the victims and their entire clans and families could be threatened and made to keep shut and not to speak out. They would have little choice but to agree to all the sarkari commands otherwise the aftermath could ruin their lives for times to come.

It is getting much too dangerous to see how the Agenda seems unfolding. Mosques and dargahs and age-old historical structures are being brought into focus, to be targeted by the Hindutva brigades under the various alibis. And then utter chaos and communal atmosphere is bound to spread out, overtaking all possible strains of governance.

Communal virus and the connected onslaughts unleashed right from 6 December 1992, when the Babri Masjid was targeted, are spreading out as never before. The Rightwing brigades and their men have connectivity with the political rulers, so one can well imagine the havoc that could unfold.

And with news of the Hindutva men also questioning the basis of the Dargah of Ajmer Sharif, I have been thinking of the numerous occasions when I visited this dargah of Khwaja MoinuddinHasanChisti—also known as Gharib Nawaz. I had met hundreds of non-Muslims, who had travelled to this dargah from the various States of the country, praying for the fulfilment of their mannats (wishes)…Complete bonding between the Muslims and the non-Muslim devotees…such a touching sight.

It is relevant to know details to this Sufi mystic, Khwaja MoinuddinHasanChisti—also known as Gharib Nawaz. He had travelled from the Middle East and settled in Ajmer. He reached there when he was in his middle age but stayed on till his last years. It’s said that he was born in East Persia around 533 Hijri (1138-39 A.D) and lost his parents at an early stage. Though he had inherited an orchard and a windmill but no sooner he had come in contact with a dervesh Sufi, Ebrahim Qandoosi, he gave up all worldly belongings and travelled towards Samarkand and Bukhara that were centres of great learning. From there he travelled further, towards Mecca and Medina and it is whilst he was there that he decided to travel down towards India.

And at that time Ajmer was ruled by the Rajput ruler Prithvi Raj Chauhan. Khwaja Saheb settled down at a hillock, close to the Ana Sagar Lake. Soon the local people started visiting him, who were totally taken up by his simplicity and piety. As the power of his blessings made way, even the mighty rulers and rajas made way towards the humble dwelling of this Sufi. It’s amazing how this practice continues to this day. Though KhwajaSaheb passed away in 1236 AH, at the age of 97 but till date thousands visit his dargah on a daily basis.

Till date a large number of visitors and devotees to the dargah are non-Muslims. This could be because this Sufi believed that there should be no compulsion in religion and that there should never be any demarcations and biases along religious lines.

Tradition states that this mystic sufi would state: “The closest to Allah is one who possesses the following three qualities: magnanimity of the river, kindness of the sun and humility of the earth. He had also said “noblest of character is possessed by one who is bountiful in poverty, content in hunger, cheerful in grief and friendly in hostility” and the “surest way to keep off punishment in hell is to feed the hungry, to redress the aggrieved and to help the distressed.” Khwaja never ever brought up any issue related to religion. He is known as gharib- nawaz because he reached out to anybody in need and distress, irrespective of caste or creed.

Legend states that the Mughal Emperor Akbar was blessed by a son after he offered prayers at this dargah. And thereafter his son, Jehangir, was a regular visitor to this dargah. Mughal emperors have left very obvious traces of their visits in the form of buildings, compound walls, mosques, darwazas and gates.

Together with this the concept of free distribution of food to those assembled in the dargah. An ongoing tradition is that of food cooked on a daily basis in two huge degs (huge cooking vessels) for free distribution. It’s said that that Mughal emperor Akbar had presented a huge ‘deg’ in which enough rice could be cooked to feed 5000 people. Emperor Jehangir also presented another deg. And till date food cooked in them, is distributed to those assembled. And Mughal Emperor Shahjahan’s daughter, Princess Jahan Ara, was not just a regular visitor but is said to have written a book on the Khwaja.

And Queen Mary, Empress of England, at the time of her coronation in India in 1911 A.D. had visited this dargah at Ajmer and left a trace of her visit by having a roof constructed over a tank.

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Vol 57, No. 26, Dec 22 - 28, 2024